Your Wedding Ceremony at Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle

We are delighted that you are considering getting married at Christ Church Cathedral. The Cathedral will provide a beautiful setting for this very important occasion in your life.

The decisions, promises and commitment you will make will be binding upon you for life, and in coming to the church for marriage, you are asking God to be part of your marriage. Be assured of the church’s prayers for you as you make your preparations. As part of those preparations we invite you to join us regularly for worship. You are most welcome at any of our services: Family Service Saturdays at 5pm or Sundays at 7am, 8am, 9.30am or Evensong at 6pm.

If you would like to be married at Christ Church Cathedral please contact the Dean’s office (02 4929 2052; cathedral@newcastlecathedral.org.au) to check whether your proposed day and time are available to book.
You will be invited to a marriage preparation meeting around 3-4 months prior to the date of your wedding ceremony. Our marriage preparation meetings are usually held on the third Thursday evening of the month and are relaxed and informal, usually about four couples attend. There is an introductory talk about weddings at the cathedral, time to ask questions, you will sign the Notice of Intended Marriage (Form 13) and start to plan the service with one of the clergy. The clergy can give suggestions about readings and music and can also advise you on the cathedral’s policy relating to photography and video-recording. The earliest date that you can lodge Form 13 is 18 months before the wedding date, although we are happy for you to book and secure a date up to 2 years in advance.

What the Church requires

Baptism: at least one of you must be baptised. Baptism preparation is available where neither of you has been baptised.

Legal Requirements

All official documentation is arranged by the clergy who will celebrate your marriage. You will however need to apply to the Office of Births Deaths and Marriages for your Registered Marriage Certificate after your wedding ceremony has taken place. You will also need to produce your original birth certificates at your planning meeting so the priest can verify. Planning meetings are held 3-4 months prior to your wedding ceremony date.

Fees

A non-refundable deposit of $300 is required as soon as you request a date for your wedding service. Unless this deposit is paid, the time and date of your wedding is not secured.

The Cathedral’s Basic Wedding Package Donation/Fee for 2017 is $1550.00.

The package includes the preparation of documents, the preparation of the building by the verger, the celebrant, the Organist, the flowers and the ringing of the bells. Flowers remain at the Church for the week’s services… we have our wedding couples to thank for always keeping the Church looking beautiful!

There will be additional charges if you choose to have a choir, extra flowers or personalised Orders of Service for your wedding. Please note that no recorded music is allowed and any Orders of Service are to be prepared and printed by the Cathedral office. Orders of Service cost $2.00 per copy for a simple, but quite lovely folded ‘glossy’ card and contain details of the wedding party, entry & exit music, prayers & readings.

In the months prior to your wedding you will be sent a tax invoice. This must be paid prior to your wedding.

The Cathedral’s Basic Wedding Package Donation/Fee for 2018 is $1600.00.

*Wedding fees are reviewed annually and are subject to change for future years.

Relationship Enrichment

Couples married at the Cathedral normally participate in Prepare, a relationship enrichment program. Prepare is non-intrusive and the time commitment involved is small. The cost is included in the package fee for 2017 wedding bookings.

Music Options for your Wedding Ceremony

Christ Church Cathedral is renowned in Newcastle and Australia for the quality of its music programme and pipe organ. The Cathedral boasts three choirs and Christ Church Camerata, Newcastle’s finest string ensemble. While the organist is included in the basic wedding package, the choirs and members of the Camerata are available to enhance and enrich the music of your wedding ceremony.

(Please note that only musicians engaged by the Cathedral are allowed to perform for your wedding).

Christ Church Cathedral Choirs:

St Nicholas Choir: (children aged 8-14): $200

Cathedral Choral Scholars: (secondary and tertiary students): $300

Cathedral Choir: $500*These fees are current for 2017 and are subject to change in 2018.(Choirs available during term time only, and with a minimum of 4 weeks’ notice)

The Cathedral is grateful for our sponsors’ support and is proud to be associated with the above companies and ask you to consider utilising their services for your wedding requirements.

TESTIMONIALS

“We can highly recommend Christ Church Cathedral Newcastle for your special day. A truly beautiful setting for such a sacred occasion, complete with all the trappings of Anglican tradition including a magnificent choir to complement your nuptials.”

Alexandra and Michael

“We feel very blessed to have had our wedding at the Cathedral. Father Mark was wonderful and the music was simply magnificent.”

Nicolette and Simon

“I knew I wanted to be married at Christ Church Cathedral from a very young age. The building is simply beautiful and in such a stunning location. The whole process was very straightforward and we had a wonderful wedding day. Fr Mark performed a lovely ceremony, the music was superb and it was fantastic to be married amongst such magnificent architecture and history. A perfect day we will never forget.”

Kate and Ian

“Our day was everything we ever dreamed of. To be married in your church was amazing. We will always remember our special day and you for helping make it so”

Caitlin and Daniel

Christ Church Cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of Newcastle within the Anglican Church of Australia